On 12 May 2026, the ESPA Thalasso Working Group will convene in Varna, Bulgaria – a distinguished Thalasso destination on the Black Sea coast.

The working group, initiated by Marlies Sobczak (ESPA Board Member, NL) and supported by Wilhelm Loth (Director, Staatsbad Norderney, DE), brings together European experts committed to strengthening the scientific foundation, visibility, and sustainable and economic development of Thalasso in Europe. The meeting is part of the HealthXchange Summit 2026, organized by European Spas Association, the Bulgarian national association BUBSPA, HTI and other partners, bringing together European spa and health tourism stakeholders. This ESPA meeting will be chaired by the newly elected President, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siyka Katsarova.

PART I.: Thalasso Exchange  
12 May 2026 from 14.00 to 15.30 – LIVE SESSION

The Thalasso meeting will begin with a high-level expert knowledge exchange, followed by an interactive online workshop open to additional interested stakeholders from participating European countries.

The overarching theme is: “The Health of the Sea”
Recognising that the health of people and the health of marine ecosystems are inseparably connected. Thalasso: the importance for our economy and natural environment

Part I – Expert Knowledge Exchange (On-site, Varna)

Title: Science, Practice and Policy in Dialogue
The meeting will open with an expert conversation featuring leading European voices in Thalassotherapy and thermal medicine:

• Prof. Dr. Todorka Kostadinova – Medical University of Varna (Bulgaria)
• Dr. Marina Lalli – President, Federterme (Italy)
• Dr. Marie Perez Siscar – President, French Thalasso Organisation (France) On line
• Prof. Maria Lourdes Mourelle – Author and Lecturer in Thalassotherapy, University of Vigo (Spain)
• Claudia Wagner Managing Director, Fit Reisen (Germany)
• Wilhelm Loth Director Staatsbad Norderney (Germany)

The session will be structured as a moderated dialogue, encouraging interaction between health science, practice, tourism development and European cooperation.

Part II Online workshop
13 May 2026 from 14.00 to 15.30

During the online workshop, Thalasso in theory and practice will take centre stage including contributions from different countries.

Dr. Michele Antonelli, World Hydrothermal Organization (OMTh), Italy: This intervention aims to explore the impact of marine environments on human health, focusing on the physiological and psychological benefits of sea climate, air quality, and exposure to marine elements. The presentation highlights current scientific evidence on thalassotherapy, examining its role in prevention, rehabilitation, and wellbeing. It also discusses emerging research on how coastal ecosystems and marine resources can support integrative, evidence-based approaches to health promotion.

Mr. Serge Fourcade, Quality Director of the Thalazur group, France
Experience the Epigenetic Journey
Epigenetic science has shown the influence of the environment on gene expression and our overall health.It’s possible to take action at any age to preserve your health!
Our thalassotherapy centers will guide each client in improving their lifestyle using the 5 pillars of epigenetics: Mindful nutrition, personalized physical activity, stress management, a supportive social environment and the pleasure of linving. Become an Actor in Your Health!

Ms. Anja Raschke, SPA and Thalasso Coordinator at Staatsbad Nordeney, Germany:
From Concept to Impact: Thalassotherapy Best Practice at bade:haus Norderney
A review of how we have holistically integrated the concept into practical implementation within our facility: treatments, Thalasso offers, courses, sauna rituals, and lounge areas.

Attendance at the online workshop is free of charge. Please fill-out the Registration form to receive the link to the online platform.

For more information please contact: thalasso@europeanspas.eu

In 2002, the kick-off of Thalasso as a therapeutic wellness treatment method took place in the German seaside resort of Norderney. Willem Loth (director Staatsbad Norderney, Germany), Dr. Raschke (Head of Research Dept. Staatsbad Norderney (Germany) and Lourdes Mourelle (member of the FA2 research group / Applied Physics department of the University of Vigo, Spain) were from the first hours intensively involved in the promotion of Thalasso as a growing – but still unknown – market.

How it Started: Thalasso Promoters

In 2023, Marlies Sobczak created this working group to promote the Thalasso concept and enhance its marketing, with the first online meeting held in April 2024. The European participant list is growing steadily, with journalist Laura Powell from the US acting as an intermediary for ESPA in North America.

In 2002, the promotion of Thalasso as a therapeutic wellness treatment began in the German seaside resort of Norderney. Key figures such as Willem Loth (Director of Staatsbad Norderney, Germany), Dr. Raschke (Head of Research, Staatsbad Norderney, Germany), and Lourdes Mourelle (member of the FA2 research group, Applied Physics Department at the University of Vigo, Spain) were deeply involved in promoting Thalasso as a growing—yet still emerging—market.

Promising American Markets

Journalist Laura Powell from Tourism Well Defined (a veteran travel and wellness consultant working with ESPA) provided insights into the potential for Thalasso in the American market. “In America, we don’t have medical spas or equivalents of balneology and Thalasso. While hot springs are very popular, and New York is a thermal city, the concept of ‘wellness’ is interpreted very differently here. In Europe, wellness often emphasizes medicinal applications, whereas, for the average American, it’s associated more with vacations and relaxation. Moreover, prices in America are much higher; for example, six days of Thalasso in Saint-Malo, France, cost me €1,000—roughly what you’d pay per day in America.” According to Powell, ‘rebranding’ is needed so that Thalasso facilities cater to broader audiences beyond the traditional wellness market. “Focus on health vacations, oceans, and lakes, and approach North American tour operators in your region.”

ESPA Congress 2024 & 2025

Marlies Sobczak presented a summary of the ESPA Congress held in Druskininkai, Lithuania, in September. This congress attracted 220 experts from 27 countries, with discussions that, for the first time, included climate therapy and Thalasso.

Looking forward, Maret Sukles from Fra Mare Thalasso Spa shared that in 2025, Estonia will celebrate Haapsalu’s 200th anniversary as a spa town. The next ESPA conference is set to be held in Estonia from October 8 to 10, 2025. The German physician Carl Abraham Hunnius, who studied in Estonia, introduced sea air, water, and mud as therapeutic treatments in 1825. Read more…

The tradition of using heat and water as therapy in Estonia goes back even further; the earliest writings on sauna use date back 745 years. Learn more about Estonian sauna tradition and VisitEstonia’s sauna information.

Invitation to the First Thalasso Exchange 2025 in Varna, Bulgaria

Siyka Katsarova, Vice President of ESPA and founder/board member of the Bulgarian Union of SPA, Balneology, and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), invited everyone to Bulgaria next April. The first Thalasso Exchange event will be held from April 15-17, 2025, at the beautiful seaside resort of Varna.

Measurable Effects of Thalasso

Dr. Varje-Riin Tuulik, affiliated with Tallinn University for over a decade, gave a brief presentation on clinical studies and publications demonstrating the curative properties of sea mud and heat since 1939. Mud also serves as a heat conductor, among other functions. “Musculoskeletal disorders are a significant problem, but Thalasso therapy improves muscle tone and blood circulation—effects that are objectively measurable. For example, it significantly reduces complaints of lower back pain.”

Mr. Wilhelm Loth and Thalasso on Norderney Island, Germany

Thalassotherapy on Norderney – Harnessing the Power of the Sea

Mr. Wilhelm Loth highlighted the importance of balancing knowledge, community well-being, and economic development in Norderney. Attracting suitable staff remains a significant focus. A specialized course for professionals, “Thalassotherapy in Theory and Practice,” will take place from February 21-23, 2025, offering a valuable opportunity for those interested in deepening their understanding of Thalassotherapy and the healing potential of the sea. The course, comprising 16 teaching units, combines theoretical fundamentals with intensive practical experience and covers the use of algae, North Sea mud, and climate therapy. It awards recognized medical training points and is open to various professionals in the healthcare and health tourism sectors.

We recently spoke to Marlies Sobczak, project manager of ESPA’s Thalasso working group, who played a pivotal role in bringing the congress to Norderney. Marlies provided valuable insight into the event and the activities of the Thalasso group.

What is the main focus of the activities of the Thalasso group within the European Spas Association?

“The Thalasso working group’s focus is on the future of Thalasso and professionalization and innovation within the health and lifestyle sector. The group has the objective to make an important step in bringing Thalasso closer to people in intensive cooperation within European countries. A new cooperation between the European Spas Association and the German Spas Association has emerged, the subject of Thalasso is vital for the seaside resorts, therefore Thalasso became the leading theme for lifestyle and health on the island of Norderney. In addition to the clinics, which offer extensive programs, there are many indoor and outdoor Thalasso facilities in the region. It was obvious that this congress took place on Norderney.”

Marlies Sobczak took an active part in several forum discussions at the annual congress. She also gave a presentation on the developments and best practices in the Netherlands with a focus on Noordwijk.

Private Lecturer Dipl.-Ing. dr rer physiol. Friedhart Raschke spoke about the scientifically based and convincing effect of Thalasso on human health. The President of the DHV, Brigitte Goertz-Meißner, emphasized the importance of cooperation and the further definition and safeguarding of the Thalasso criteria. In cooperation with Wilhelm Loth, Managing Director of Staatsbad Norderney GmbH, a staunch Thalasso fan, and ESPA’s Marlies Sobczak, it was agreed to develop the Thalasso health services on a European level.

Where do you see the main challenges and opportunities?

“More and more attention is being directed towards a healthy lifestyle, also in relation to our surrounding nature, climate and focus on sustainability. This includes seeking medical supervision and the use of services of professionals. At the coast, considering the benefits of a seaside location and a healthy maritime climate, the conditions are optimal to respond to a market where there is not only demand but where the need for prevention and awareness is concretely visible.”

What is the future of Thalasso from your point of view?

“It is almost an assignment for DHV and ESPA to further develop these opportunities and translate them into a future-oriented offer. Our slogan explains it all: Power by the sea. New spirit for thalassotherapy – the use of seawater and marine environment.”

Marlies Sobczak also explains that during the annual congress of DHV in Norderney, the future program of the ESPA working group was presented. The aim is to meet once a year as a working group on a European level.

In addition, an extensive document containing several (scientifically) substantiated reports in which the effects of Thalassotherapy are described and the latest insights are expressed has been compiled. The documents and publications were obtained through various channels from Romania, Germany, and France, – Marlies Sobczak concludes.